Fisher signed with the Mavs in late November but then asked for and received his release Dec. 22, he said in a statement at the time, so he could spend more time with his family, though he was hobbled by a strained tendon in his knee, too.

Fisher went through his first practice Tuesday with the Thunder after signing with Oklahoma City for the stretch run for the second straight season.

Fisher says he's "not planning on retiring at the end of the season," but his family agreed that he deserved the opportunity to play with the Thunder in case this ends up being his last chance.

Coach Scott Brooks wouldn't say if Fisher will be activated for tonight's game against New Orleans.

So how do the Mavs feel about his return to OKC?

Mavericks owner Mark Cuban initially did not reply to multiple emails from NBA.com, but the website’s league source said the best way to describe the mood of the Mavs’ front office is “agitated.”

Cuban then broke his silence before the Mavs' home loss Tuesday to the Bucks, NBA.com reported. “Look, I understand, completely,” he said. “From the time Derek was here to him signing with OKC, his kids are older, so they can deal with things better. So I understand him having more comfort in being away from them.”

The website noted that Cuban, obviously, made the comment as a tongue-in-cheek dig at Fisher, given that Fisher signed with the Thunder only two months after Dallas agreed to release him from his contract.

But the Mavs organization wasn’t laughing when it learned of the 17-year veteran's move.

NBA.com's source said that Fisher, 38, and his representatives never contacted the Mavs during his decision-making process to discuss a possible return to the team that signed him Nov. 29 when no other was interested in him.

The Mavs (25-31), 5 games out of the West’s No. 8 spot, are trying to make a playoff push but are relying on inconsistent Darren Collison and 37-year-old D-League call-up Mike James to run the point. Fisher was a part of five NBA championship teams with the Los Angeles Lakers.

There has been some speculation that Fisher signed with the Mavericks primarily so he could remain eligible to be president of the players’ union, a position in which he helped forge the ouster of executive director Billy Hunter during the recent All-Star break.